Georgia man accused of trafficking faces up to 17 years in prison

The Tbilisi City Court sentenced a man accused of labor exploitation of minors to detention as a measure of restraint on the basis of a petition from the Prosecutor General's Office.

Report informs citing Sputnik-Georgia that, according to the investigation conducted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the accused exploited a 12-year-old minor for the purpose of obtaining benefits.

"Threatening and exerting psychological pressure on the child, the detainee forced him to beg on the streets of Tbilisi, as well as to steal small items," the report says.

He appropriated all the proceeds and disposed of at his own discretion.

A criminal case has been initiated under the article "Trafficking in minors (trafficking), committed with the use of violence, blackmail or deceit", which provides for punishment in the form of imprisonment for a term of 14 to 17 years.

According to the department, the investigation of the criminal case is ongoing.